Category: Connecticut Travel

The holidays will crank into full gear at the 8th Annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend presented by Whole Foods Market with fun for the entire family onSaturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 from noon to 5p.m. This highly anticipated event will feature a live Nativity, horse drawn carriage rides, professional ice sculpture demos, music and entertainment, children’s activities, live reindeer and photos with Santa, plus more than 125 Greenwich merchants and restaurants offering special promotions, refreshments and in-store attractions.

The participating retailers and activities can be found on an interactive map accessed online at http://www.GreenwichReindeerFestival.com and by mobile devices. Saturday’s free parking is sponsored by the Greenwich Town Party, Richards and Pray Body Shop. Parking is free on Sundays.

Merchant Highlights

Created and produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment, a Greenwich-based event-marketing company, the event will feature many activities throughout the downtown, such as holiday card writing to service men and women in conjunction with Boy Scout Pack 10 at C. Parker Gallery which will also host The Stanwich School Trolley outside the store. There will be SIPS & BITES – wines, spirits and light bites – featuring 12 Greenwich merchants sponsored by Horseneck Wines & Spirits, Whole Foods Market and Garelick & Herbs. Letter writing to Santa will take place at 24 stores with mailboxes located at 29 stores.

Dance It Out to Benefit Kids in Crisis

At Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich, dance fitness sensation Billy Blanks Jr. of Shark Tank fame will conduct his popular Dance It Out class, Saturday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, 12 to 1 p.m., to benefit Kids in Crisis. All proceeds from the $20 per person class fee will go to the organization. On Saturday at 5 p.m., Billy will join the merrymaking at the Delamar for holiday caroling and wine and cheese.

Live Nativity and Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

A live Nativity will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at several churches including First United Methodist Church of Greenwich, St. Paul’s Church in Rye Brook, Second Congregational Church in Greenwich and Greenwich Baptist Church. There will be a blessing of the animals, which will include a camel, llama, cow, donkey and five sheep, lessons and carols and a live Nativity photo booth. Horse drawn carriage rides will operate from noon to 3 p.m. each day. Carriage stops will be located at Amogerone Crossway and Greenwich Avenue, Fawcett Place and Greenwich Avenue, the Village Square parking lot on Mason Street and in front of Cavalier Galleries on Greenwich Avenue.

Arts and Ice Sculpture

The Greenwich Arts Council will offer a complimentary photo collage family workshop, Saturday, 1 to 2 p.m., and an ice sculpture demonstration by professionals from Apple Ice in New York City will take place at McArdle’s Florist & Garden Center from noon to 2:30 p.m. each day.

Live Music and Entertainment

Two live entertainment tents – one at 240 Greenwich Avenue sponsored by Greenwich Hospital and another at 1 Pickwick Plaza sponsored by Sotheby’s International Realty – will feature performances by 18 music groups, made possible by Entertainment Curator Barbara Occhino of BarbaraEntertains.com. Groups will include the Greenwich Public Schools Honor Choir, Ridgefield Chorale, Grace Notes, The Pop Music Academy, Higher Ground, That Virginia, Brantah, Exit 5, The Bows, Connecticut Playmakers, Barbara Occhino’s Serenade, Matt McDonald and Friends, Riverside Chorus, Cody Carver, John Cloonan, Johann Flores, Charlie HappyLife and Kismet.

Food and Treats

To satisfy shoppers’ appetites, many of the stores will offer special treats from Greenwich restaurants and caterers. A Food Truck Village with trucks in several locations will include Christie Caters Farm to Truck, Pappi’s Mediterranean, Wendy’s Weenies, Dough Girls, Fryborg, LobsterCraft, Taco Pacifico, Tony’s Square Donuts and Chicken Joe’s On the Go.

8th Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village

And not to be missed are live reindeer and photos with Santa, train and carousel rides at the 8th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street, just minutes from downtown Greenwich, Monday through Saturday, November 25 to December 24. Photo packages begin at $29.99 and include a Shop and Dine Greenwich gift bag filled with promotions redeemable at participating downtown Greenwich stores. On Saturday, December 3, $5 from every photo package and $5 from every wreath over $50 purchased at Sam Bridge will be donated to Kids in Crisis.

The 8th Annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend is made possible by the following sponsors: Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, Whole Foods Market, Pepsi, Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich, Greenwich Hospital, Sotheby’s International Realty, Citarella, M. H. Heaven Real Estate, Delamar Greenwich Harbor, Faces by Wells, Kempo Academy of Martial Arts, David Lerner Associates, Venture Photography, Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors, Greenwich Town Party, Richards and Pray Body Shop. Community Partners include the Greenwich Arts Council, Barbara Occhino of BarbaraEntertains.com, Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich, Greenwich VIP.com, Eagle Fence & Guardrail, b.good and Greenwich Garden Design. Media Sponsors are Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media, The Advocate/Greenwich Time/Brooks Community Newspapers, Fairfield Parent, News 12 Connecticut, 95.9 Fox, Star 99.9 and AM1490 WGCH. This event was created and is produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment, a Greenwich-based event-marketing company. For more information, visit www.GreenwichReindeerFestival.com or call 203-531-3047.

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Once again this year Santa and his live reindeer -Dancer, Dasher and Prancer – are coming back for the 8th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village to an exciting NEW HOME, “the North Pole on North Street,” Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street, Greenwich, Connecticut, from November 25 to December 24, 2016.

The cherished town tradition continues at this expansive nursery where visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and also ride on the Winter Wonderland Carousel and the North Pole Polar Express Train, all just minutes from downtown Greenwich. Parking is free. The community is invited to Sam Bridge for a “We’re Back Party” on Friday, November 25, from noon to 6 pm, when Santa’s Village is officially open for photos with Santa.

While waiting for the reindeer to arrive in the afternoon, everyone can enjoy special refreshments, face painting by Faces by Wells and balloon artists. Throughout the four weeks, the reindeer will make Sam Bridge their home, thanks to Reindeer stable sponsor, Pepsi, and children, adults, corporate groups and even pets (on leashes) can have their photo taken with Santa at Santa’s Village, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich. Photo packages begin at $29.99 and include a gift bag filled with promotions redeemable at participating downtown Greenwich stores. Rides on the Winter Wonderland Carousel and North Pole Polar Express Train are $4 per person. Family package prices are available.

Hours for the Photos with Santa, train and carousel rides are Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reindeer feeding times will take place daily at 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The reindeer will depart on December 23 but Santa will remain for photos until 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. For more details on this magical holiday tradition, visit www.Greenwichreindeerfestival.com

Mark the calendars now for Pequot Library’s Black Friday/Saturday Book Sale on Friday November 25, 2016 and Saturday, November 26, 2016, from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. There will be tons of deals with most books chosen for their suitability for holiday gift-giving. There will be many new items; most others are gently-used — ideal for gifting. This sale is cozy with plenty of free parking. The sale takes place in Pequot Library’s Auditorium which will be filled with natural sunlight streaming through stained leaded glass windows. Admission is free.

With over 10,000 items to choose from, including books and media, there will be something for everyone on your list. There are many Easton Press, leather-bound books with gilt covers, all classics, like new, which will make great gifts! For the music lovers on your list there will be hundreds of new CDs and DVDs, still factory-sealed and shrink-wrapped.

Come to relax, browse and buy. Book Sale Categories and Specialty Items Include: Art/Photography; Ballet; Children; Christmas/Holiday; CDs/DVDs; Cookbooks; Easton Press Books; Gift Books; Signed Books; Themed Books; and so much More!

Easton Press books are bound in genuine leather and accented with 22kt gold. Each book is a Collector Edition that is as magnificent to see as it is to read. The extraordinary books are an elegant addition to any home or office, and make the perfect gift for the holidays. For over 30 years, Easton Press books were sold only to subscribers who created their own personal libraries and used the books to help their children begin their libraries. Among the treasured Easton Press books are The Greatest Books Ever Written, undoubtedly the greatest collection of books ever assembled.

New this year will be a Catalog of Some of Our Volunteers’ Favorites, which will be posted on the Pequot Library website two weeks prior to the sale. These eclectic and interesting items can be purchased in advance. All sale proceeds support Pequot Library’s 750 annual programs for adults and children, serving over 100,000 participants a year. Volunteers still needed to help at the sale. Contact Caroline Crawford at (203) 259-0346 ext. 13 or crawford@pequotlibrary.org. Please visit http://www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15. Follow Pequot Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Pequot Library Brings Culture to Life!

As the leaves have turned and fallen, and the temperatures continue to cool, Litchfield County Auctions located on Rte. 202 in Litchfield is hosting their last sale of the year. Held over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, it is a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

Opening the doors on Black Friday, the gallery combines an Auction Exhibition together with a Priced Estates Tag Sale and “Ready to Wear” Boutique Fashion Sale. All weekend, auction items, which are also online, can be previewed in person. There will be a tag sale for you to browse for antiques and home decorations, while our annual “Ready to Wear” Fashion Boutique Sale will be open for you to shop for quality clothing and accessories – men’s and women’s, vintage to designer, and one of a kind finds – this sale is surely not one to miss!

In the auction, there will be great property coming from quality estates and collections, Highlights include 20th Century Art & Design from the collections of Antony Hayden-Guest and actor Bruce Willis; and Fashion from the collection of Amy & Milton Greene. Fashion &
Jewelry designers include Hermes, Valentino, Dior, Judith Leiber, Givenchy, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Kiesilstein-Cord, YSL, Ferragamo, Manolo Blahnik, Bulgari, Miu Miu, Dauss, Mary Francis, C & D Jewelry, Mark Cross, Roberto Cavalli, Kenneth Jay Lane, Alexis Kirk, Rodrigo Otazu, Monies, Lawrence VRBA, and Others!

Thanksgiving Holiday Auctions
Featuring Fine & Estate Jewelry, Watches, Handbags & Couture Fashion; 20th C. Design: Arts & Crafts to Mid-Century Modern0; and Fine Art: Impressionist & Modern to Post War & Contemporary Art.

Auction Exhibition & Tag Sale: November 25 to November 29, 10am-5pm.
2-Day Live Auction: November 30 & December 1, 10am each day
“Ready to Wear” Boutique Fashion Sale
Live Gallery Sale: Thanksgiving Weekend, November 25–29, 10am-5pm
Please join us for our second annual “Ready to Wear Boutique” – a fine apparel and accessory sale. Vintage, designer and contemporary items for men and women that are priced for immediate purchase. This sale will run concurrently during our Thanksgiving auction exhibition.

Glitter is fun at any age! The Norwalk Historical Society is hosting Glitter 101, an ornament-making workshop, with artisan Laurie Davis at Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street in Norwalk, CT on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7:00pm. Learn how to create Ms. Davis’ signature glitter pear ornament and explore the history of glitter! The workshop is $35.00 and includes all materials. Registration and pre-payment required by December 2 at http://www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org. Snow date for the workshop is Tuesday, December 13.

Let Laurie Davis, the Glitter Fairy, take you on a journey through the medium of glitter! We all played with glitter as a kid, now it’s time to have some fun with it as adults at Glitter 101! At this two hour workshop, Ms. Davis will discuss the history of glitter, where it comes from and how it’s used. Then she will instruct the group on how to create her signature glitter pear ornament complete with leaf, bow and hammered brass hook. She will also instruct on how to create a fun holiday gift tag and how to display the ornament in a gift box. All materials including gift tag and box are included in the workshop price. Each student will leave with his or her own handcrafted glitter pear ornament perfect for gift giving or keeping!

Laurie Davis is a former Art Teacher and Graphic Director with a BFA from Syracuse University. She has appeared several times on NBC’s The Martha Stewart Show, The Katie Brown Workshop and Pet Talk. Her passion for design and nature led her to create a full-time business, and for over 17 years she has embellished faux fruit, veggies, dragonflies, bumblebees, sea stars and other shapes with a dusting of glitter, transforming them into much coveted seasonal decorations. Ms. Davis’ handcrafted ornaments and cards are sold throughout Connecticut, Maine, Virginia and in her etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GlitterWorksStudio. Her lovely glittery globe ornaments can be found in the Norwalk Historical Society Museum Gift Shop.

For more information visit www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, e-mail info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org , or call 203-846-0525. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on things to do and events in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The New Canaan Nature Center located on 144 Oenoke Ridge is offering a program on Saturday, November 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. that will help you walk off some of those holiday calories. Grab the entire family (and any lingering holiday visitors too!) and head on down to the New Canaan Nature Center! You won’t want to miss this awesome annual event, a long-time favorite for both members & guests.

Join the NCNC Naturalists for a healthy, invigorating Trail Trek to work off that holiday meal. While “waddling” the trails, we’ll search for some of nature’s most treasured gifts (apple trees, maple trees & honey bees to name a few) and learn why the end of autumn may not be quite as quiet as you may think. In fact, autumn is a busy time of year for many wild animals such as deer, squirrels & birds!

As an extra Thanksgiving bonus, after our hike, you’ll also get to enjoy a FREE behind the scenes tour of our Animal Care facilities & Birds of Prey Exhibit – our way of saying “thank you” to the community.

Naturalists will be departing with groups from the Sugar Shack for Trail Treks at 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM (sign up is on a first come, first serve basis with limited spots for each).

This event will take place rain or shine and is a drop in program that is free for members and non-members and promises family fun from one years old to ninety!

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com
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